A MASSIVE &#xA3;48m of benefits are lying unclaimed by pensioners in Wales, according to the latest figures.

About 44,000 pensioners living in Wales entitled to Minimum Income Guarantee are leaving their money unclaimed, so on average, the nation's pensioners are missing out on up to &#xA3;22 per week - or more than &#xA3;1,100 annually each.

In response to this finding by the Department for Work and Pensions, the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership is today calling on the UK government to set new targets designed to ensure that at least 90% of pensioners are claiming all means-tested benefits within the next three years.

To help make the process of claiming simpler and clearer the partnership has produced a consumer-friendly guide entitled Can You Claim It?

The partnership wants older people in Wales to realise that these benefits are not a charity handout but an entitlement. It stresses that unclaimed money goes back to the Treasury instead of to the pockets of older people, who are its rightful owners.

The Welsh Assembly Government recognises this issue through its Strategy for Older People and Help the Aged has called for a Wales-wide benefit take-up programme.

The deputy minister with responsibility for older people, John Griffiths, is endorsing this booklet and Help the Aged's campaign.

He said, "The Welsh Assembly Government is very pleased to support this campaign. We want older people in Wales to claim all the benefits they are entitled to in order to help reduce poverty levels.

"It is important that older people receive the message that they have a right to these benefits."

The Can You Claim It? booklet published by the British Gas and Help the Aged Partnership helps older people overcome the complexity inherent in the process that is a barrier to effectively claiming these benefits.

The free booklet offers clear and simple advice on eligibility and how to make a claim, covering such topics as minimum income guarantee, housing benefit, council tax benefit and help with health costs.

Janet Reed, British Gas Help the Aged Partnership spokeswoman, said, "The British Gas and Help the Aged Partnership has so far successfully helped more than 200,000 older people to claim valuable benefits, so we understand what a very real difference these benefits can make.

"There is a lot of money owed to UK pensioners and we will continue to help thousands more older people get hold of their money."

The Can you Claim It? booklet is available at all Help the Aged stores.

It can be downloaded at www.helptheaged.org.uk or send a 34p SAE to Information Resources Team, (CYCI), Help the Aged, 207-221 Pentonville Road, London N1 9UZ.